Chery Tiggo dethrones Creamline, takes PVL Open crown

BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE, August 14 ------ Chery Tiggo has carved its name in the history of Philippine volleyball. This, as the Crossovers averted an early sweep to turn back Creamline in Game Three, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8 to become the first-ever professional champion of the Premier Volleyball League at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center, Friday afternoon. With the Open Conference title in the line, Chery Tiggo used its super net defense to take an early 5-0 advantage.

Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza got things going for the Cool Smashers, but Santiago nailed back-to-back hits to for the 9-2 lead. After a back and forth affair, Carlos committed an attack error which put Chery Tiggo at championship point. Jasmine Nabor followed it up with a service error Santiago ended the match with a quick.

Creamline had all the momentum early in the first set with Chery Tiggo opting to sit Santiago out the first rotation. But once the 6-foot-5 behemoth finally made her way to the middle, it became a back and forth swing that ended with Jeanette Panaga and Risa Sato securing the crucial hits that gave the Cool Smashers the 1-0 advantage. The Rebisco-backed squad once again maximized the situation, building a huge lead in the second set before Valdez and Tots Carlos drilled the differential hits for the 2-0 lead.

Chery Tiggo avoided a sweep through a huge third performance from Dindin Santiago-Manabat. Creamline threatened to take set, but Mylene Paat sealed the deal to keep her squad alive in the match. The Crossovers then leaned on the heroics of the Santiago sisters to force a deciding fifth set.

Source: tiebreakertimes.com